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devour you, if he take from you, if he exalt himself, if 21 he smite you on the face. I speak with regard to reproach, as though we had been weak: whereas in whatever any is confident, (I speak as a fool,) I am confident 22 also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? 23 so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am 1. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak foolishly,) I am more: in labours more abundantly, in stripes more exceedingly, 24 in prisons more abundantly, in deaths often. Five times 25 I received from the Jews forty stripes save one. Thrice

I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I have been shipwrecked, a day and a night I passed in the deep : 26 In journeyings often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from the heathen, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in 27 dangers among false brethren: In labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, 28 in cold and nakedness. Beside the things that are from

without, that which rusheth upon me daily, the care of all 29 the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who 30 is offended, and I burn not? Since I must glory, I will if he denour you-By his exorbitant demands, (notwithstanding his boast of not being burdensome,) if he take from you-By open violence, if he exalt himself-By the most unbounded self-commendation, if he smite you on the face-(A very possible case,) under pretence of divine zeal.

V. 21. I speak with regard to reproach, as though we had been weak-I say, Bear with me; even on supposition that the weakness be real, which they reproach me with.

"V, 22. Are they Hebrews, Israelites, the seed of Abraham-These were the heads ou which they boasted.

V. 23. I am more so than they. In deaths often-Surrounding me in the most dreadful forms.

V. 24. Five times I received from the Jews forty stripes save one-Which was the utmost that the law allowed. With the Romans he sometimes pleaded his privilege as a Roman; but from the Jews he suffered all things.

V. 25. Thrice I have been shipwrecked-Before his voyage to Rome. In the deep-Probably floating on some part of the vessel.

V. 27. In cold and nakedness-Having no place where to lay my head; no convenient raiment to cover me; yet appearing before noblemen, governors, kings, and not being ashamed.

V. 28. Beside the things which are from without-Which I suffer on the account of others; namely, the care of all the churches-A more modest expression than if he had said, the care of the whole church. All-Even those he had not seen in the flesh. St. Peter himself could not have said this in so strong a sense.

V. 29. Who-So he had not only the care of the churches, but of every person therein, is weak, and I am not weak-By sympathy, as well as by condescension. Who is offended-Hindered in, or turned out of, the good way, and I burn not-Being pained as though I had fire in my bosom.

V. 30. I will glory of the things that concern my infirmities-Of what shews my weakness, rather than my strength.

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31 glory of the things that concern my infirmities. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for 32 ever, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus, the governor

under king Aretas kept the city of the Damascenes with 33 a guard, being determined to apprehend me. But I was let down through a window in a basket by the wall, and escaped from his hands.

CHAP. XII. 1. Surely it is not expedient for me to boast: yet I will come to visions and revelations of the 2 Lord. I knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body I know not; God knoweth,) such a one caught up to the 3 third heaven. Yea, I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knoweth,) 4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not possible for man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will glory; but I will not glory of myself, 6 unless in my infirmities. For if I should resolve to

V. 32. The governor under Aretas-King of Arabia and Syria, of which Damascus was a chief city, willing to oblige the Jews, kept the city, setting guards at all the gates day and night.

V. 33. Through a window-Of a house which stood on the city wall.

CHAP. XII. Ver. 1. It is not expedient-Unless on so pressing au occasion. Visions are seen, revelations heard.

V. 2. I knew a man in Christ-That is, a Christian. It is plain from ver. 6, 7, that he means himself, though in modesty he speaks of a third person, whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not-It is equally possible with God, to present distant things to the imagination in the body, as if the soul were absent from it, and present with them; or to transport both soul and body for what time he pleases to heaven; or to transport the soul only thither for a season, and in the mean time to preserve the body fit for its re-entrance. But since the apostle himself did not know, whether his soul. was in the body, or whether one or both were actually in heaven, it would be vain curiosity for us to atttempt determining it. The third heaven-Where God is; far above the aëreal and the starry heaven. Some suppose that it was here the apostle was let into the mystery of the future state of the church; and received his orders to turn from the Jews, and go to the Gentiles. V. 3. Yea, I knew such a man-That at another time.

V. 4. He was caught up into paradise-The seat of happy spirits in their separate state, between death and the resurrection. Things which it is not possible for man to utter-Human language being incapable of expressing them. Here he anticipated the joyous rest of the righteous that die in the Lord. But this rapture did not precede, but follow after his being caught up to the third heaven. A strong intimation, that he must first discharge his mission, and then enter into glory. And beyond all doubt, such a foretaste of it, served to strengthen him in all his after-trials, when he could call to mind the very joy that was prepared for him.

V. 5. Of such an one I will-I might, glory: but I will not glory of myself -As considered in myself.

V. 6. For if I should resolve to glory (referring to I might glory) of such a glo

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boast, I should not be a fool; for I speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me, or heareth from me.

And lest I should be lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be lifted 8 up. Concerning this, I besought the Lord thrice, that it 9 might depart from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I am well pleased in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's 11 sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I am become a fool in boasting; but ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing have I fallen short of the very chief apostles, though I am nothing.

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Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty 13 deeds. For wherein were ye inferior to the other churches,

rious revelation, I should not be a fool-That is, it could not justly be accounted folly to relate the naked truth. But I forbear-I speak sparingly of these things, for fear any one should think too highly of me-0 where is this fear now to be found? Who is afraid of this?

V. 7. There was given me-By the wise and gracious providence of God, a thorn in the flesh-A visitation more painful than any thorn sticking in the flesh, a messenger or angel of Satan, to buffet me-Perhaps both visibly and invisibly and the word in the original expresses the present as well as the past time. All kinds of affliction had befallen the apostle. Yet none of these did he deprecate. But here he speaks of one, as above all the rest, one that macerated him with weakness, and by the pain and ignomony of it, prevented his being lifted up more, or at least not less, than the most vehement headach could have done; which many of the ancients say he laboured under. St. Paul seems to have had a fresh fear of those buffetings every moment, when he so frequently represses himself in his boasting, though it was extorted from him by the utmost necessity.

V. 8. Concerning this-He had now forgot his being lifted up, I besought the Lord thrice-As our Lord besought his Father.

V. 9. But he said to me-In answer to the third request, My grace is suffi cient for thee-How tender a repulse! We see there may be grace where there is the quickest sense of pain. My strength is more illustriously displayed by the weakness of the instrument. Therefore I will glory in my weaknesses rather than my revelations, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me, The Greek word properly means, may cover me all over like a tent. We ought most willingly to accept whatever tends to this end, however contrary to flesh and blood.

V. 10. Weaknesses Whether proceeding from Satan or men: for when I am weak-Deeply conscious of my weakness, then does the strength of Christ rest upon me.

V. 11. Though I am nothing-Of myself,

unless that I myself was not burdensome to you? For14 give me this wrong. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you: yet I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you; for the children ought not to lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the 15 children. And I will most gladly spend and be spent for

your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the 16 less I am loved. But be it so: I did not burden you: 17 but being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a 18 gain of you by any of them whom I sent to you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? In the same steps?

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19 Think ye that we again excuse ourselves to you? speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification. For I fear lest when I come, I should not find you such as I would, and lest I should be found by you such as ye would not: lest there should be contentions, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, 21 swellings, tumults: Lest my God should humble me when I come to you again, and I should mourn over many of them who had sinned before, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.

CHAP. XIII. 1. I am coming to you this third time: every word shall be established by the mouth of two or 2 three witnesses. I told you before, and do tell before

V. 14. The third time-Having been disappointed twice. I seek not yours→ Your goods, but you-Your souls.

V. 15. I will gladly spend-All I have, and be spent-Myself.

V. 16. But some may object, Though I did not burden you, though I did not take any thing of you myself, yet being crafty I caught you with guile-I did secretly by my messengers, what I would not do openly, or in person.

V. 17. I answer this lying accusation by appealing to plain fact. Did I make a gain of you by Titus-Or any other of my messengers? You know the contrary.

It should be carefully observed, that St. Paul does not allow, but absolutely denies, that he had caught them with guile-So that the common plea for guile, which has been often drawn from this text, is utterly without foundation. V. 19. I desired Titus-To go to you.

V. 19. Think ye, that we again excuse ourselves-That I speak this for my own sake? No. I speak all this for your sakes.

V. 21. Who had sinned before-My last coming to Corinth. Uncleanness Of married persons; Lasciviousness-Against nature.

CHAP. XIII. Ver. 1. I am coming this third time-He had been coming twice before, though he did not actually come.

V. 2. All the rest-Who have since then sinned in any of these kinds, I will not spare-I will severely punish them.

hand, (though now absent, as if I were present the second time,) those who had sinned before, and all the rest, that 3 if I come again, I will not spare; Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but 4 powerful among you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God: and we also are weak with him; but we shall live with him, by the 5 power of God in you. Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith: prove yourselves. Do ye not know yourselves, 6 that Jesus Christ is in you, unless ye are reprobates? And 7 I trust, ye shall know, that we are not reprobates. Now I pray God, that ye may do no evil: not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is good, though 8 we should be as reprobates. For we can do nothing 9 against the truth, but for the truth. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we 10 wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use seve rity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me, for edification, and not for destruction.

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Finally, brethren, farewel: be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of 12 love and peace shall be with you. Salute one another

V. 4. He was crucified through weakness-Through the impotence of human nature. We also are weak with him-We appear weak and despicable by partaking of the same sufferings for his sake: but we shall live with him-Being raised from the dead, by the power of God in you-By that divine energy, which is now in every believer, (ver. 5.)

V. 5. Prove yourselves—Whether ye are such as can, or such as cannot bear the test. This is the proper meaning of the word, which we translate reprobates. Know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-All Christian believers know this, by the witness and by the fruit of his Spirit. Some translate the words, Jesus Christ is among you, that is, in the church of Corinth, and understand them of the miraculous gifts, and the power of Christ which attended the censures of the apostle.

V. 6. And I trust ye shall know-By proving yourselves, not by putting my authority to the proof.

V. 7. I pray God, that ye may do no evil-To give me occasion of shewing my apostolical power. I do not desire to appear approved-By miraculously punishing you; but that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates-Having no occasion to give that proof of our apostleship.

V. s. For we can do nothing against the truth-Neither against that which is just and right, nor against those who walk according to the truth of the gospel.

V. 9. For we rejoice when we are weak-When we appear so, having no occa. sion to shew our apostolic power. And this we wish, even your perfection-In the faith that worketh by love.

V. 11. Be perfect-Aspire to the highest degree of holiness: Be of good comfort-Filled with divine consolation: Be of one mind-Desire, labour, pray for it, to the utmost degree that is possible.

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